UCF Kicker With Over 52,000 YouTube Subscribers Says The NCAA Told Him To Stop Making Videos Or Quit Football
TAMPA BAY – A UCF kicker says NCAA rules are forcing him to choose between playing football and making YouTube videos.
The kickoff specialist, Donald De La Haye, explained his predicament in a video he posted over the weekend on his channel, which has more than 53,000 subscribers.
“Some people upstairs aren’t happy with my videos, and they feel like I’m violating NCAA rules…” he said in his video (which you can see at the bottom of this post). “I guess I can’t make any videos that make it obvious that I’m a student-athlete, because that makes it seem like I’m using my likeness and my image to make money and all this, which I’m really not.”
De La Haye paused to take a bite from what appears to be a breakfast burger before continuing. The Port St. Lucie native says he is a marketing major, so his YouTube videos are an extension of his career path. He later says that his family back home needs the money he receives online.
College athlete dedicates himself to his team and plays in all 13 games then in his free time makes funny comedy videos on Youtube which he films and edits as practice for his potential future career as a marketing major. Sounds like EXACTLY what the NCAA is supposed to be all about right? I mean hell, that’s like the story they should use in the commercials. “Most of us will go pro in something other than sports.” Donald De La Haye a prime example of what a student-athlete should be.
But, here’s the thing, and it’s a big thing – you’re forgetting who we’re talking about here. The NCAA!
“Everything’s going to go well,” he said in the video. “We’re just going to talk about ways that I can keep doing what I’m doing and follow the rules.”
It’s unclear who the meeting was with, but upon returning, De La Haye said he was basically given an ultimatum of choosing between football or YouTube videos.
“The meeting went well, but it didn’t go well at the same time,” he said. “Basically, I’m not allowed to make any money off of my YouTube videos. I’m working hard basically as a job — filming, editing and things of that sort, and I’m not allowed to make any money. If I do, then bad things happen for me. I feel like they’re making me pick between my passion for what I love to do shooting videos and entertaining and my other passion, playing football.”
De La Haye continued: “I’ve put in the work, and I’m not allowed to get any benefits from that work. My family’s struggling at home; there’s barely any food and tons of bills piling up. My mom’s struggling, calling me crying. And I’m not allowed to help. I thought I had found a way.” [SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH]
Looks like somebody thought the NCAA credo of “don’t get compensated for any money-generating thing you do” only applied to on the field. Big mistake.